Avalanche and Ducks Continue Strong Starts with Key Victories

The Colorado Avalanche secured a thrilling overtime victory against the Vancouver Canucks, winning 5-4 on Sunday night. Gavin Brindley scored the game-winning goal just over a minute into overtime, sealing the win after a fast-paced game that saw Nathan MacKinnon contribute significantly with two goals and three assists. This performance marked MacKinnon's second consecutive game with at least four points, pushing him to the top of the NHL leaderboard with 29 points, including 14 goals. Artturi Lehkonen also had a standout night, scoring twice, while Valeri Nichushkin provided two assists. Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood turned aside 29 shots, marking his second start of the season. The Avalanche have now won five of their last six games and collected points in every game during that stretch, showcasing their early-season prowess. Meanwhile, the Vancouver Canucks, who lost for the first time in five contests past regulation this season, saw contributions from Jake DeBrusk, Drew O'Connor, Kiefer Sherwood, and Linus Karlsson, but it wasn't enough to overcome Colorado's offensive onslaught.

On the other side of the league, the Anaheim Ducks extended their winning streak to seven games with a decisive 4-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Rookie Leo Carlsson scored two goals, extending his points streak to ten games, while Beckett Sennecke also netted a pair of goals, marking his first multi-goal game in just his 15th NHL contest. Chris Kreider and Cutter Gauthier each added two assists, and goaltender Lukas Dostal made 23 saves to secure the win for the Ducks, who improved their home record to 5-1-0. Carlsson is currently tied for second in the NHL with 25 points, trailing only MacKinnon. The Jets, who were previously 9-3-0 and riding a three-game winning streak, have now lost three consecutive games and have been outscored 9-2 on their current six-game road trip. Kyle Connor did manage to score for Winnipeg, marking his 600th career point, but the team struggled to match Anaheim's offensive firepower. The Ducks' strong performance emphasizes their impressive start to the season, placing them as a formidable contender in the early days of this NHL campaign.